I agree with Don and Linda, Lyon is a great place to spend one or two
nights. We actually spent three nights there. Excellent restaurants and
the sites are good also. We found it a terrific city to wander around
on foot.
We travelled by TGV from Paris to Lyon. It was fast and smooth. I would
recommend you travel second class. If I remember correctly the trip took
about two and half hours.
If you would like I could forward, by Microsoft Word, the part of my travelogue
that deals with Paris and Lyon .

>I was wondering if I should make reservations, NOW or wait until Paris.
We didn't on both legs of our journeys; Paris to Lyon and Avignon to Paris.